CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN NEW YORK

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 25, 25 June 1908, Page 30

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN NEW YORK

IMPOSING AND IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES £

Under April skies, now blue - and glorious and radiant, again dull, threatening, and showery, the centennial celebration of the founding of the diocese of New York took place (says the ' Uatholic News '). The centenary observance opened on Sunday,- April 2(5, under most auspicious conditions, all the elements combining to produce an ideally perfect spring day. On that morning from the altar of every church and chapel in the- archdiocese the Holy Sacrifice was . offered in thanksgiving to G-od for the blessings of the -last century, in the presence of overflowing congregations* and to the accompaniment of jubilant strains of music, hymns of gjladness and praise, historic and uplifting sermons. - In the majestic Cathedral on Fifth. Avenue, with the venerable Irish Cardinal Logue as a central figure, surrounded by a retinue of distinguished prelates and dignitaries', the religious functions reached the climax of splendor," while in the larger churches of the • city the services were, marked by elaborate ritual, gorgeous and rich vestments, appropriate sermons and'- rich music. Through the length and breadth of the city buildings and streets were masses of gorgeous color, and the decorations were not confined to Catholic houses. The centennial celebration passes into history as one of the proudest and most memoraWe series of events that have graced the pages of our history as an or- - ganized religious body. Catholic New York, her Archbishop, clergy, and laity certainly rose to the occasion, and the strangers within our gates — the noted dignitaries and members of the episcopacy and priesthood who came from near and far, frpm home and abroad to add prestige to the occasion and* to share in the joy and triumph of their fellow-Cath-olics in this year of jubilee — must have been profoundly impressed by the striking evidence furnished that the Catholic Church in this metropolis has grown in a century from a weak and struggling body into a mighty organization. A Century of Progress. In the course of his sermon at the opening ceremonies at St. Patrick's Cathedral Archbishop Farley said : — The diocese of New York has completed the first century of her existence. It seems proper that we should pause at the threshold of the second century and derive- lessons of profit for the future by calling to remembrance the works of the Fathers which they have done in their generations. A little more than a hundred years ago, while the country was still a colony, and even to the close of the struggle which . gave liberty and independence to this young nation and opened an asylum to the world's willing workers and to the oppressed, the religion -of Christ, which it is our privilege to possess and our pride to profess, was banned and banished wherever it ventured to show its head in the land. Although the first legislative Assembly in New York was convened by a Catholic Governor, Colonel Dongan, and its first act was a Charter of Liberty, it was not until 1784 that a subsequent Legislature of New York repealed the law of 1700 which condemned to perpetual imprisonment any ' Popish priests and Jesuits ' found in the colony of New York. The Church from the moment she was fr,ee used every effort and made every sacrifice to establish Catholic free schools. And perhaps it may not- be uninteresting to many here — it may be a matter ol great surprise— to learn that The First Free School Established hTiinis Stated was St. Peter's school, in Barclay street, which, was started in 1800, six years in advance of any .public school. In those days it was a hard struggle" for our forefathers to even provide the necessaries for "public worship. What sacrifices on the" part of our Cath- :i ©lie people during more than one hundred years are Implied in carrying out the principle of Catholic education, only God can tell. We have the material evidence of their zeal in the building up from one little church and one humble school a century ago to the full measure of development she has attained to-day in this province of New York, in its 1546 churches, 2710 priests, 583 parochial schools, with an attendance of 251,383 pupils, all maintained at the voluntary expense of our generous and devoted people. There were only 16,000 Catholics in the whole diocese, which then took in all New York State and a part of New Jersey, at the lime the first free school started, and not enough means amongt them to support one or two

modest churches without appealing to European and South American Catholics. Monday-, April 27,. .was observed as Children's Day in every parish in the archdiocese. Masses were celebrated for them and sermons suited to their capacities were delivered by pastors, or priesls delegated by liheiu. The Principal Religious Event. On Tuesday morning, April 28, the principal religious event ol the celeDration tooK place at -St. Patrick's Cathedral, when his Eminence Cardinal Logue, Archb.ishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, officiated at High Mass in the presence „of another Prince of the Church, ten Archbishops, forty Bishops, 800 priests,- and over 7500 laymen and women. It was without a doubt the most magnificent and impressive religious ceremony ever witnessed in this country. The exterior of the Cathedral, as well as the interior, was 'bfeautifully decorated. The grand procession was led by forty altar boys in cassocks and surplices, and was the most imposing street spectacle ever seen in this country. It was a scene "that one "might expect to witness in Rome or in some other Catholic city, but which in the metropolis oLtheNew World was unique. In the line of procession was. a Prince of the Church, surrounded by the priests - who were to assist him in the celebration of the Mass. There was also present -m the line the direct" representative of the Pope in this- country, his Excellency the Most Rev. Diomede Falconio. There were also Archbishops from every pa-rt of this country and , even from - Canada ; there were" forty Bishops, 100 Monsignori, and nearly 800 priests. Among the last mentioned was the Rev. J. Lynch, of the diocese of Dun-,, edin, New Zealand, who was present at all the ceremonies. The occasional sermon was preached by Cardinal Gibbons, of Baltimore. Archbishop Farley, at the close of the Cardinal's sermon, read two letters from the pulpit, one from his Holiness Pope Pius X., and the other from the President of the United States, and also delivered a brief address, in which he thank-, ed the prelates, priests, and people for their presence* at the great celebration. After the Mass the 800 prelates and priests assembled in the main hall of Cathedral College, where a banquet was served. Archil>ishop Farley, as the host, occupied the centre seat at the long dais table running along the entire length of the hall on the west side. At this table the two Cardinals, the Archbishop, and the Bishops were seated. On either sideof Archbishop Farley sat— Cardinal Logue and Cardinal Gibbons ; next to Cardinal Gibbons was the Apostolic Delegate, the Most Rev. Diomede Falconio. Mass Meeting and Reception. The scene of the great centenary celebration was changed on Wednesday evening, May 29, to Carnegie Hall, where a monster mass-meeting of the laity was held to celebrate the advance of Catholicity during the past one -hundred years. The meeting, whibh was honored by the presence of Cardinal Logue and Archbishop' Farley, both of whom delivered addresses, was indeed a feast of oratory. Besides these two prelates the other speakers wijre the Hon.- Morgan J. O'Brien, the Hon. John J. Delany, Paul Fuller, Dr. James J.- Walsh, "and the Hon. W. Bourke Cockran. The Catholic Club presented a most brilliant app*ear-, ance on Thursday night, April 30, when a reception, was held In honor' of Cardinal Gibbons, Cardinal Logue, and the other prelates who were here to take part in the centenary celebration. Addresses were delivered by prominent members .of the club, and by tyoth Cardinals and Archbishop JFarlcy. On May 4 Cardinal Logue, Archbishop Farley, Bishop Browne (Cloyne), and other prelates visited ; Washington, and on the following day the Cardinal paid his_ respects to the British Ambassador at British Embassy. • On May 6 the President of United States entertained Cardinal Logue at luncheon". Invited -to -meet him were Cardinal Gibjbons, Morisignor Falconio, the Papal Delegate ; Archbishop Farley;" of New York; Bishop Browne, of Cloyne *; and BishopO'Connell, of the Catholic University. Imposing Parade of Catholic Laity. After a week into which were crowded imposing ceremonies"" at the Cathedral, a monster mass meeting at "Carnegie Hall, and a brilliant reception to the visiting prelates at the Catholic Club, the centenary celebration of the New York diocese was brought to a close on Saturday afternoon, May 2, with one of the most remarkable street - parades ever held- in the United States; Forty thousand Catholic laymen (Concluded on page 33.)